With just two weeks to go before the Oscar nominations on Feb. 2, it’s looking more and more like we’ve got seven sure-shot Best Picture nominees and three slots up for grabs. We can assume Avatar, The Hurt Locker, Up in the Air, Precious, Inglourious Basterds, Up, and An Education are all in. Beyond that, there’s a rash of films vying for Nos. 8, 9, and 10. Here they are, with their major guild accomplishments so far.
Star Trek: Producers, Writers, Art Directors, Editors
District 9:Â Producers, Art Directors, Editors
The Hangover: Writers, Art Directors, Editors
A Serious Man: Writers, Editors
Nine: Actors, Cinematographers
Invictus: Producers
Crazy Heart: Writers
The Messenger: none
The Blind Side: none
The main questions in my mind right now: Does all the guild support for District 9 and Star Trek mean they both could make it in? Could The Hangover really end up as a Best Picture nominee? Can all the love for Jeff Bridges push Crazy Heart into the big race? My votes for the last three right now: Invictus, A Serious Man, and Star Trek, with District 9 biting at their heels. What do you all think will score those three up-for-grabs slots?
I would LOVE to see Star Trek get a best picture nod, and perhaps a win. better yet though, give Nimoy an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. He really deserves it and his supporting role was the glue that bound the film together
I agree that Star Trek deserves a spot(and IMO, it was better than Avatar) but I do not think it deserves a win(should go to Hurt Locker) and much less a nod to Nimoy.
but yeah, it’s still my personal fav <3
Star Trek better than Avatar? HELL YEAH!
While Star Trek was surprisingly VERY well-done and fun and overall awesome (I say “surprisingly” because a. I always lose interest pretty quickly in everythng JJ Abrams and end up not standing anything by him and b. I’ve always absolutely hated everything Star Trek before this movie), Best Picture? Seriously? Hardly the case.
On a related note, I haven’t seen every single film released this year or ever, but I bet they’re pretty much ALL better than Avatar.
@ Ju….I’ve seem ALOT of movies this year and trust me, there are not many that are better than Avatar. Now that doesn’t mean that Avatar was uber awesome (it was very good) but I think it just means that this is a poor year for movies.
I’ve seem all the movies on that list and the ones on the nomination list and I still struggle to think of a good movie I’ve seen.
jennifer, maybe you havn’t actually seen that many movies, but this year’s a fantastic year for movies. it’s just not a good oscar year. think about it. any film in my top 25 would make last year’s top ten list.
If anyone deserves a nod from Trek, I’d throw my support for Zachary Quinto. He was the one everyone was wowing over when the film first came out anyhow. But since I doubt any of the actors will get recognition, I’ll leave my hopes in the film getting a nod. It’d be really awesome.
Zachary Quinto did make the top 15 at the BAFTA’s which I think is great. Star Trek blows Avatar away.
Totally agree, Ryan. I LOVED Star Trek. It’s for sure one of the best films of the year, and one of my favorite Star Trek films. Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto totally rock, as do all the cast, and it was amazing to see the great Leonard Nimoy, wonderful as always. This is a superb film. I’m amazed it didn’t have double the Box Office. But the franchise is set to make a second film with this cast and I can’t wait for that. My favorite films this year are Star Trek, Avatar, and Harry Potter, but the HP films never get Best Picture nods. Perhaps that will change with the last one because as franchises go, the Harry Potter franchise has been consistently excellent.
Why are you people thinking Star Trek is welcome at the the Academy Awards?!!!
I have a strange feeling that Fantastic Mr. Fox can have a chance for a slot.
I can’t see two animated movies making it in.
Agree with SC but I think it deserves it.
Star Trek does NOT deserve a nom. It was fun and interesting in that it DIDNT suck. District 9 was fun and interesting without sacrificing intelligence or originality. The new Star Trek was a dumb summer movie that was very well executed but had no emotional or technological heft to deserve a nom.
I thought I was going crazy for second. Thank you for stopping me from putting myself in a mental institution… Wait, I think I have to go anyway. Avatar won Best Picture at the Golden Globes!
I think it’s Invictus, Star Trek, and District 9 with The Blind Side biting their heels. But I WANT it to be The Messenger, Star Trek, and Crazy Heart. I’d also choose District 9 to bump Avatar or Up in the Air, but those are probably the biggest locks.
Avatar and UP are in, no qeustion.
I thought Star Trek was the best written, acted, edited, and directed movie I saw all year. SO yeah, hoping for STAR TREK.
A Serious Man: Writers, Editors
Nine: Actors, Cinematographers
Invictus: Producers
Seem like typical Oscar picks
“Nine” is DOA at this point, and I don’t think “A Serious Man” has enough buzz, though residual Coen love might get it in.
nine is definately D.O.A. in any non technical categories. I think its just gonna get a costume design nod… D9, Star Trek and maybe Invictus or Hangover – i still dont see An Education getting a best pic nom
“Does all the guild support for District 9 and Star Trek mean they both could make it in?” Guild support didn’t help TDK get in the top 5, I don’t think it can help both get into the bottom 3, but who knows.
you forget that the Golden Globes also awarded best musical/comedy to the hangover. quite another big accomplishment i might add. as for your secure 7, you have to think that because its the oscars, one or two of those won’t make the final roster. the oscars always love a surprise, or two. my bid is on the hangover, star trek and (500) days of summer for the final 3 slots
Those “surprises” are usually bad ones, though, so if anything is a surprise to me, it’d be Nine getting a Best Pic nom, which could still happen. The Reader didn’t have much better reviews (although it did have Kate Winslet going for it, while Nine’s actors are likely to be completely snubbed).
The Comedy/Musical BP winner at the Globes doesn’t carry nearly as much weight as the Drama winner. The only film in recent years to win the Comedy award and the BP Oscar was Chicago.
I’d love to see Where the Wild Things Are nominated as Best Pic. It was my favorite of the year.
Really?? Don’t get me wrong, I liked the film but I certainly don’t think it was the best film of the year (it had a considerable number of flaws).
Is AN EDUCATION really a lock for a nomination? I’m not so sure. THE HANGOVER seems to have broader support. If CRAZY HEART grabs a Best Picture nomination, then Jeff Bridges will be the clear favorite over George Clooney for Best Actor.
I would delete “Nine” from the 10! While I really liked the movie, I appear to be the only person who did. The critics have trashed it, and the viewers are staying away.
In a perfect world Star Trek, Mr. Fox, and Serious Man would grab the last three spots.
I’m thinking it will be:
Invictus
Nine
The Hangover…I think the academy will do it.
An Education is a lock? Really? I thought it was alright, not amazing. I can’t believe it’s almost a certainty it’s going to get a best pic nom. How is this possible? None of the actors seem to be making much progress. Peter Sarsgaard and Alfred Molina aren’t really being mentioned for nominatios and Carey Mulligan’s best chance was at the Globes. So why is it so deserving?
An eduction is a lock. I don’t see what the lack of actor nominations has to do with anything. Renner is not a 100% lock for Best actor nom (unlike Carey) and Mackie has less than a 10% chance(even worse chance than Molina), while avatar has no acting nomination prospects and yet those are the two frontrunners to win best pic. What is important is a lot of people like the movie. The cast beat out Up in the air for SAG ensemble even though UITA has a more high profile cast. It’s a small indie and it has done well so far with NBR, PGA, BFCA and the screenplay and direction are strong. Compared to the other potential bottom five movies it is well rounded and is more the taste of the academy.
Perfect answer!
Thanks JANE
Also BAFTA nods are likely to be reaped on it tomorrow. Although they are not really an official precursor, their picks the last couple of years have matched up almost eerily well, seeing as there is a lot of british within the Academy…just a thought.
Wait, where’s A Single Man? Does it really stand no chance at this point?
It got tepid reviews apart from Firth’s performance.
The 7 locks are really good.
I’d vote for The Blind Side, The Hangover and The Princess and the Frog to take over the other 3 slots. But, alas, that probably won’t happen.
Realistically, I’d predict Star Trek, District 9, and Invictus.
Actually, I’m replacing my “The Hangover” with 500 Days of Summer.
I agree “(500) Days Of Summer” has a real shot, don’t know why Karger keeps failing to mention it!… I think the other 2 would be “A Serious Man” and “Invictus”…but maybe “The Hangover”.. I don’t think “Star Trek” has a shot in hell!